9: THE CONTRACT

"If I unknowingly signed to become your slave for life, forget about it," I muttered, flipping through the document.

Ethan chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "I would never do that. I'd never put you in restraints... unless maybe you wanted it."

"Perv," I hissed, my cheeks heating despite myself.

The pages rustled as I flipped through them quickly, scanning for any hidden clauses or sinister fine print. I wasn’t about to trust him blindly—not after everything. My eyes darted from line to line, my heart racing for no good reason. I wasn't a lawyer, but I could understand enough to know I wasn’t about to sell my soul.

"I panicked for nothing," I frowned, slamming the document shut. "There's nothing bad in here."

Ethan smirked, leaning back in his chair, the picture of confidence. "I know. I just wanted to teach you a lesson."

"A lesson in what? Trusting you? Not happening." I rolled my eyes and shoved the papers across the table, putting as much space as I could between them and myself.

"I honestly don't know how this is going to work," I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Your mother hates me."

"She hates everyone," Ethan said nonchalantly, spinning his chair slightly.

"And there's still the question of the girl you were engaged to." My voice was steady, but the words hung in the air like a weight.

Ethan stopped spinning. With one smooth motion, he turned the chair to face me fully. The intensity in his dark eyes made my pulse quicken, and I hated that he had that effect on me.

"You are not marrying my mother," he said firmly, a hint of exasperation in his tone.

I looked away, pretending to find the thin curtains separating the dining area from the living room suddenly fascinating.

"Look at me," he commanded softly, his voice losing its edge.

Before I could resist, he reached out, tilting my chin so our eyes met. His touch was surprisingly gentle, and it sent an electric jolt through me.

A gasp escaped my lips when Ethan tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so intimate, so unexpected, that for a moment, I forgot how much I hated him.

"You don't have to worry about anybody," he said, his voice low and soothing. "I will protect you and be loyal to you until this contract is over."

There was sincerity in his gaze that made my chest tighten. For a brief, fleeting moment, I wanted to believe him. But then I reminded myself who he was. Ethan was the man who had almost ruined my life.

Still, the way he was looking at me now made it hard to say no.

"Five years?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Five years," he confirmed, his tone almost reverent. "Although I'd love it to be longer."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. His face was so close to mine now that I could feel his breath, warm and steady, against my skin. The tension crackled between us like a live wire, and for a moment, it felt as though time had stopped.

When his lips finally crashed into mine, it felt like a tidal wave sweeping me away. Every nerve in my body came alive, and I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe—only feel.

Ethan kissed me with a skill that made my head spin. His lips moved against mine with such precision and expertise that I found myself wondering—against my better judgment—how many women he had kissed to become this good.

The last time we kissed, I’d been drunk and reckless. But now I was sober, painfully aware of every touch, every sensation.

And I liked it.

My brain screamed at me, calling me every name in the book, but I didn’t care. This wasn’t about logic or morality. It was about the way Ethan made me feel, about the fire he ignited in me with just a kiss.

For years, I’d told myself that passion like this didn’t exist outside of movies and romance novels. My ex, Tommy Harris, had been living proof of that. Kissing him had always felt like a chore—a wet, messy, and utterly unappealing chore.

Ew. Just thinking about it made me gag. Good riddance to that loser.

But Ethan... Ethan was a different story entirely.

I wanted to blame the heat of the moment, but the truth was, I was willingly letting this man—this infuriating, arrogant man—take control.

Before I knew it, I was perched on the edge of the dining table, my dress bunched up around my thighs. Ethan stood between my legs, his hands roaming up and down my bare skin. His touch was maddeningly gentle yet insistent, and it sent shivers down my spine.

His lips barely left mine, only breaking away to trail down my neck. The pressure of his mouth against my skin made me certain I’d be covered in hickeys by the time this was over.

"Do you want to stop?" Ethan growled, his voice low and husky.

The sound of his voice sent a fresh wave of heat through me. It was like he knew exactly what he was doing to me, and he was reveling in it.

"Maddy?" he said again, and the way he said my name made my knees weak—even though I was sitting.

I heard my brain cuss me out as I pulled him closer to me. The buckle of his belt grazed the thin fabric of my underwear and I was pretty sure his lawyer heard me moan uncontrollably.

I honestly couldn't care less. Ethan was the one who had a reputation to protect and I'm sure he trusted his lawyer to be quiet about his personal affairs.

"I love how sensitive you are" Ethan murmured under his breath as he nuzzled the nape of my neck.

I wish he would never shut up. I wanted him to keep talking forever. Or at least till I was satisfied.

Unfortunately, the euphoric feeling was cut short as Ethan stopped and froze with his body pressed against mine.

"Are you okay?" I whispered.

He ignored me and went straight for the hem of my dress.

He pulled down the fabric and covered my exposed legs.

"Erhnnn... I have another....client at the office" Arthur stammered as he cleared his throat.

"I apologise. I'd be with you shortly" Ethan said dismissively as he fixed his pants and bolted out to the living room leaving me a complete mess of sweat and body fluids.